In Liberia, Costa Rica after picking up the rental SUV we stopped for a greasy hangover cure at McDonald’s, which was packed crowded with Costa Ricans. Surprising how popular Mickey D’s seemed to be there - super crowded… we could barely walk in the place. People were very friendly and smiled when looking at us... quite a contrast to the stern faces of the Nicas in Nicaragua. Liberia is modern and very clean compared to everything we saw in Nicaragua. In some respects it is disappointing to see McDonald's (as well as Burger King, KFC, and Little Ceaser's pizza) in Central America... in other respects it is comforting, and when one is hungry (and hungover and hungry!), grabbing a familiar bite to eat in a foreign country is not a bad thing. After our greasy hangover ... read more

Nicaraguans ("Nicas") are a very stern people. Not a lot of smiling or friendliness toward us gringos or toward each other from what I could see. They have been polite to us - but minimally. I guess widespread poverty and a civil war in the past 30 years might do that to a people. Nicaragua means "the land of lakes and volcanoes" - the landscape is very lush and pretty during the rainy season and there are many volcanoes that you can see off in the distance... but there is a lot of poverty... random people walking down roads everywhere between cities. Rob and I had our friend Roberto the cab driver take us from Managua to Granada today. A bus ride would've been $4. The cab ride was $40. Worth every penny. We drank beer ... read more

So I'm new to this travelblog business... this first post is a test post before I head out on my Central American trip and continue this ridiculous travelblog business there... thanks for playing! I am traveling with good friends Kevin Martinico, Robert Schock, and Jon Moga (who has been down in the area for a few months). When I first shared with friends and family that I would be travelling to Nicaragua for an adventure trip, a few thought it was fantastic. Most everyone else said, "Are you nuts??!!" In particular my mom said when I first told her, "I'll put you on the church prayer list" and my Dad says repeatedly when I make mention of the trip, "I don't want to talk about it." The country is relatively calm compared to past years (i.e. ... read more